Coin chute



March 28, 1939. w. A. TRATSCI -l ET AL COIN CHUTE Filed Sept. 18, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 112 Auuuuu ll WaherATrafsch and l Vlllmm Pafzer INVENTORS BY W THEIR ATTORNEY.

S R O m E V m 2 Sheets-Sheet r x Y Jlv E a m P o m n a A U R "l .1 T

W. A. TRATSCH ET AL COIN CHUTE Filed Sept. 18, 1936 March 28, 1939.

h m D A m d W Patented Mar. 28, 1939 umrao; STATES PTENT OFFICE COIN CHUTE Walter-A. Tratscli and William Patzer, I

- Chicago, Ill.

Application September 18, 1936, Serial No. 101,418 12 Claims. (Cl. 194-101) This invention relates to coin chutes and more particularly to the type of chute having combined automatic and manually operable detecting and ejecting means for rejecting spurious coins,

5 the instant disclosure being a continuation, in

part, of .our co-pending application Serial No..

15 present disclosure pertains include, generally, 'a-' chute member having a coin path with entrance and exit openings and various selecting and ejecting mechanisms interposed in the path of a coin in its movement betweenthe said entrance and exit openings.

Mechanisms of the aforementionefgener'altype may include a magnetic member in the coin" path against which a paramagnetic coin will be' attracted in actual contact, and still other ma'gnetic members adapted to maintain a magnetic flux across the path of the moving coin. In general, the present disclosure isconcerned with improvements in'a coin chute mechanism ofz the latter generally described type.

It has been discovered that for reasons at present not ascertained, certain otherwise legitimate coins such as certain of the United States five-cent or nickel pieces, are attracted and stopped in their passage through the chute by the flux maintaining magnets, thus jamming or choking the chute against normal movement of coins therethrough.

It has further been discovered that a practice exists of. providing so-called slugs and other coin simulating, bodies with central fill-importions of iron or other paramagnetic substances,"

and coins or slugs of this latter type are readily attracted and held against movement in the 45 magnetic field maintained across the chute path as aforesaid.

taining magnetic members commonly-provided in present day types of coin chute.

A further important object is theprovisionofi'. 5.5 an optionally operable slug clearing mechanism for use with types of coin chute having a manual ejecting or clearing control.

Other and more specific objects will appear in view of the following detailed description, together with the drawings in which: 1 b

Fig. .1 is a side elevation of a chute mechanism incorporating the novel means of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the device of Fig.

1 and taken along the lines 2-2 thereof l0 Fig. 3 is a horizontal section through the lower part of the chute mechanism of. Fig. 1, and taken in the direction of lines 3-4 thereof;

Fig. 4 is a median vertical sectiontaken along the: line's 4-4 of Fig. 2; 7 Fig. 5 is a vertical section talren. along the The'bodyistructure of the coin chute shown in Fig. 1 comprises a main side wall plate ill having on its inner surface a cut-away or channeled chute or coin" path l2- (Fig; -4),-which may be extended; in a-tortuous and descending direction toward the'l'owermost extremity of the plate I 0 to open into two exit or discharge openings 14 and lfiin the said lower edge. As shown in FigQETfthe said main side wall plate It! is provided with a closure plate l8 hinged as at 2| for movement toward and away from the chute body so as to provide a movable side wall section and opening the chute portion l2 being otherwise substantially closed except for the aforementioned discharge openings It and i6, and an entrance or deposit opening 20 in the upper region of the chute and an intermediate side opening d3.

Supported upon the main plate member ill by means of lugs 22 and 24 in slots in the top edgev of the chute body and pivoted upon extensions 2| from the chute body, is a magnet bearing plate 26 (Fi'gI -1') in which is clamped an elongated bar magnet 28 by means of a plate having extended fingers 23 protruded through apertures in-thepl'ate 26 and a clamping screw 25 lsecuring, the .tWoplatestogether. The magnet 3'28 has,a plurality ot edge portions 30, one of which is "adaptedto extend through the carrier platezifi and through; longitudinal opening 32 in --the'side wall of'thechute, slightly into the upper longitudinal-region of. the coin chute or passage (Fig' 4) H This'inagnet; bearing plate 26 is adapted to move outwardlyon hinge rod 2| from the chute wall I 6 by means of a manual control to be hereinafter particularly described.

Substantially parallel with the protruding edge 36 of the magnet 26 in the opening 62 is a very low ridge or lateral extension 64 on the inner surface of the chute and against which a coin descending the upper chute level may bear in passing or engaging the magnetic edge portion 36. Protruding into the chute wall from the exterior walls thereof is a pair of pin members 66 adapted to be moved into the channel or chute path by tilting the chute mechanism for the purpose of deflecting the normal downward descent of the coin. Immediately below the aforementioned pins 66 is an anvil 46 of predetermined hardness and rebound characteristics, such that a legitimate coin striking thereon after move ment from the entrance opening 26 will be deflected against a light wire hinge member 42 to pivot the latter as at 44, and move into the lower region of the chute for passage between the pole pieces 45 of a pair of permanent magnets 46 mounted on the outer surface of the chute body adapted to maintain a constant magnetic field across the path of a descending coin for purposes of variously affecting the speed of movement of coins or tokens or varying metallic and paramagnetic characteristics.

Also positioned within the. chutein a direction below the pole pieces 46 is a pair of adjustable deflecting members 46 and 56 against which coins may impinge for deflection, depending upon their metallic content and hardness, toward one or another of the exit openings I4 or I 6.

The selective scavenging or clearing mechanism of the present invention is shown in part in Fig. 4 to include a coin ejecting flnger 52,. in the shape of an arcuately conformed plate having a nose portion 54 and pivoted as at 66 in a cut-away portion 66 of the main chute plate l6 for movement of the nose portion 54 thereof through a cut-away opening 66 in the longitudinal edge of the plate I 6 into the chute path to assume the dotted line position shown in Fig. 4.

Referring again to Fig. 1, the ejecting finger 62 is pivotaliy connected at 66 with a bell crank 62 also pivoted at 66 upon the outer surface of the side wall plate l6, and has a laterally extended stopping pin 64 adapted to be moved against the side edge of plate i6 to limit the movement of the flnger inwardly.

A drive rod or plate 66 is slidable on a pair of pins 66 and 66 extended laterally from the side wall l6 into a pair of longitudinally extensive slots 16 in the plate 66. The pin 69 extends outwardly of the plate i6 beyond the extremity of the pin 66 and has attached thereto a spring 12 which is attached at its other extremity to an outwardly extending pin 14 on the bell crank 62; the left-hand extremity 61 of the rod 66 normally bears against the pin I4 of the bell crank under the urgence of the spring 12, while the opposite extremity of the rod 66 is connected with a pivot arm 16 by means of a headed screw pin 11 extended through a longitudinal slot 16 in the arm 16 and threadable into the body of rod 66.

It should also be observed that there is a third lateral slot 6i in the side wall plate l6 underlying the slide bar 66. This slot communicates with the interior of the chute at the lowermost regionof the passage adjacent the rebound deflectors 46 and 56. (See Fig. 4.)

Extended laterally of the slide rod 66 is a pin 65 which protrudes into the chute passage (Figs. 1 and 4), and in its normal position, corresponding to the normal position of the slide bar 66, this blocking pin 65 abuts the extremity of slot 6| (right-hand in Fig. 1, left-hand in Fig. 4) so that its inner extremity lies below the deflector 46, out of the path of moving coin elements.

The arm 16 is pivoted on the side wall plate l6 as at 66 and has a second diverging arm 62 with a sidewise extension 64 which confronts the front lateral wall or edge 66 of the chute structure as in Fig. 2, and which has a diagonally extending cam surface 66 for camming engagement with the lower extremity 66 of a master ejecting arm 62 pivoted as at 64 on the edgewise extremity 66 of the chute.

The master ejecting arm 62 has a companion arm 66 pivoted as at 66, adjacent the arm 62 and having an arcuately shaped recess I66 in an extended part thereof into which is movably extended a boss I62 on arm 62.

Coil spring I64 has its extremities attached to the uppermost extremities 65 and 63 of the electing arms 66 and 62 respectively, to draw the latter toward each other and toward their respective side walls I6 and I6 of the chute structure.

The companion arm 96 has a laterally extended pin I66 which overlies the upper endmost portion of the side wall 16 for engagement with an extended loop portion 21 on the magnet carrier 26, for the purpose of pivoting the latter on its hinges 22 in a direction away from the side wall i6 when arm 96 is pivoted responsive to a movement of the master arm 62. (See Figs. 1 and 2 particularly.)

The side wall l8 of the chute body has a pivotally movable portion adapted to be moved away from the plane of the common body portion by engagement with an extension thereof of the pin 69 on arm 62 for the purpose of permitting certain types of spurious coins or tokens to be discharged in a sidewise direction from the chute proper after they have been detected or detained by the various detecting mechanisms provided in the chute, examples of which will be mentioned in the appended description of operation.

It being desirable to provide a manually or selectively operable means for returning spurious coins or slugs to the depositor and otherwise to clear the coin chute of such undesirable elements, I have provided a manually operable plunger H2 which is slidable against the spring 4 in a mounting sleeve H6 extended through the wall 6 of the cabinet of a vending machine or like device with which the coin chute is associated. The innermost extremity of the plunger rod H2 is provided with a suitable head H6 which confronts an edge portion of the lower extremity 96 of the master ejecting arm 62, the chute structure being secured to the wall 6 adjacent the plunger mechanism as shown in Fig. 2.

Operation Referring first to Fig. 4, it may be assumed that a legitimate coin is deposited in the receiving opening 26 of the chute whereupon the coin will descend past the edge 66 of a first testing means or magnet protruding into the said wall opening 32, past the deflecting pins 36, and downwardly to strike upon the anvil 46. Being a legitimate coin it will rebound from the anvil suitably to pass the light gate 42, moving the latter about its pivot 44, and continuing on downward past the confronting pole pieces 46 of a upon the latter will be pivoted in a clockwise second'testiiig means in' mefrormfor magnets as and-through" the magnetic field created by the latter-, af ter wliich it willfliinaliy strike upon the charged through the exit l4.

deflecting point of] the deflector 50 and be'dis- Assuming, :a. spuriousjnon-metallic or other light slug. made -for example of. cardboard, to 1 be inserted 'atthe opening '20, it will move down: wardly in the chutejandifjit-is sufliciently light .will be" substantiallyfihalted' in its downward movement upon striking the anvil sufficiently to fall, into a depression M; and thereafter it means of the deflecting member 48 and 50 in the lower region of the chute.

In the case where a paramagnetic coin'is inserted in the receiving opening 20, such coin in all probability will be immediately halted in its downward course by attraction against the protruding edge 30 of magnet 28, there to remain until the plunger rod 2 is urged inwardly against its spring H4 to move the master arm 92 and its companion arm 96 so that thelatter may pivot the magnet bearer 26 outwardly to disengage the retained coin and permit the latter either to fall out the side wall exit created by outward movement of the gate or movable side-wall section I8, which opened simultaneously with the operation of the carrier 26, or the releasedtoken will resume its downward movement, whi'ch movement because of the arrest of its descent will in all probability cause the coin or slug to rebound from the anvil in a manner to deposit it in the depression 4! to pass out exit 43.. Such coin', however, should it not be rejected in the upper region. of the chute, in all probability would be discharged through the exit l6 because of the effect of the magnetic field set up'by magnets 46 upon its downward momentum and the deflectingseflect of the member 50,

A paramagnetic coin which has passed the magnet 28 in the upper region of the chute may be frequently attracted toward one or the other of the pole pieces 45 of magnets 46 should such a coin or slug descend that far in the chute. In such a case, the attraction of the coin may be sufficient to prevent dislodgment or movement by other coins subsequently deposited, and thus the mechanism would be substantially jammed and inoperative.

In the general types of coin chute mechanism heretofore used and having selecting and detecting instrumentalities corresponding generally to those herein described, there would be no means vfor clearing the device other than disassembling the coin chute structure to remove the attracted slug. The means of my present invention provides a mechanism which makes it unnecessary to resort to such an expediency.

directioniabout the pivot I02 to cause the lower cam extremity 90 thereof to move over the inclined cam surface 88 and thus pivot the arm I6 (see Fig. l) downwardly and move the sliding rod orplate 66 in a direction toward the left, so that the extremity 6! thereof will bear against the pin 14 and move the bell crank 62 about the pivots 56'in a clockwise direction, thus urging the ejecting finger 52 through the pivoted linkage 63 man inward direction about its pivot 56 until the nose portion 54 of the finger assumes the dotted line position shown in Fig. 4, in which position a coin C may be struck and dislodged from the attraction of the magnets 46 for further descent in the chute toward the spurious-discharge opening l6, or the coin may merely be slid downwardly a short distance without dislodgment.

The foregoing movement of slide bar 66 will also have caused the blocking pin 65 to be carried from its ineffective position beneath the defiector 48 to the right-hand end of the slot 6| (Fig. 4) and into the path of descending coin elements, thus assuring that the latter (legitimate or spurious) will be deflected into exit l6.

Thereafter the operator may release the plunger H2 for restoration by means of the now compressed spring ll4 to its normal position of Fig. 2. The master ejecting arm 92', together with its companion arm 96, will likewise be restored to normal position (full lines in Fig. 2) by means ofv the spring I04.

However, should a coin or slug C (dotted lines Fig. 4) be halted near the lowermost pole pieces 45, it will be apparent that the ejecting finger 52 when pivoted into the-dotted line ejecting position of Fig. 4, would not contact such coin and would be ineffective to dislodge the latter. In such a case, the subsequent deposit of a legitimate coin or one that for any reason was permitted to pass to the lower region of the chute into position behind the coin C (which position may also be represented by the "coin C of Fig. 4) then the nose 54 of ejecting finger 52 would contact the latter (coin C) of the two coins or slugs and dislodge both retained coin elements for subsequent discharge through the opening iii or M, unlessboth be paramagnetic, in which case the latter might remain attracted but would be displaced.

In the event that a coin element C" (also shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4). should line up behind one or more retained coins C or C, or otherwise be held in its indicated position, such coin element will likewise be dislodged by the finger 52 upon operation of the plunger 2.

We have thus provided an additional scavenging or slug clearing mechanism cooperable with an existing novel form of manually operable clearing mechanism, and one which is simple, rugged,

andcheap in construction and which may be readilyapplied to coin chutes of the class generally described, such mechanism being particularly effective to return to the operator or proprietor of a vending machine with which it may be associated, various types of coin elements, both legitimate and spurious, when such elements are selected or retained within the coin chute mechanism under any of the several conditions herein suggested.

While we have described in detail a particular embodiment of our invention for purposes of illustration, it is not our intention to be restricted to such details except in such manner as may be hereinafter provided in the appended claims.

i 01 the chute, means for effecting movement of said first testing means into and out of normal pofltion, a second magnetic testing means spaced away from said first-mentioned testing means for selectively afiecting the rate of movement of coin 15 elements through said chute, ejecting means including a finger mounted for movement from a normal unobstructing position into the coin path in the chute to dislodge coin elements retained therein by said second testing means for conas tinued movement of the dislodged element down the passage, means operably connecting said ejecting finger means with said means for moving the first testing means for ejecting operation with the latter, together with means positioned at a :5 point in said chute below said second testing means for cooperation with the latter to selectively deflect coin elements descending from higher levels.

2. A coin chute having a descending chute passage and magnetic testing means mounted for movement relative to said passage and normally positioned to arrest or retard coin elements moving therein, manually operable means for eilecting movement of said magnetic testing means from said normal position to efiect release of coin elements arrested thereb'y, said chute having a normally closed movable side wall section arranged for movement into open position to provide a discharge passage adjacent said testing means and through which coin elements may normally escape when released as aforesaid, a second magnetic testing means spaced from said firstmentioned testing means at a point lower down said passage, and auxiliary ejecting mechanism including an ejecting member mounted for movement from a normal inefi'ective position into the chute passage to dislodge coin elements detained by said second testing means, and means operatively interconnecting said movable wall section, said manually operable means, and said auxiliary mechanism to actuate the latter and said ejecting member and open said discharge passage by operation of said manually operable means, and means arranged to selectively deflect coin elements in said passage at a point below said second testing means in cooperation with the latter.

3. A coin chute including a body providing a descending coin passage having an entrance and terminal exits, a first magnetic testing means movably mounted on said body near the upper region of said passage to arrest movement of certain coin elements. manually controlled means for moving said first testing means from a normal testing pomtion to release arrested coin eleing means and which fail to pass out said discharge exit, together with ejecting means including an ejecting arm pivotally mounted on said body for movement into and out of said coin passage adjacent said second testing mea'ns to engage and dislodge a coin element arrested by the latter for the purpose of eiifecting continued movement of such coin elements on down the passage toward said terminal exits, means normally urging said ejecting arm'out or said passage, and mechanism operatively coupling said manually controlled means and said ejecting arm for coaction so as to eifect movement of the first testing means out or said normal position into releasing position and move said ejecting arm into said passage for the purpose aforesaid, and selective coin deflecting means arranged in said passage below said second testing means 101' cooperation with the latter to selectively guide movement of coin elements relative to said terminal exits.

4. A coin chute including primary magnetic coin testing means for arresting coin elements of a predetermined character and arranged for clearing movement out of a normal testing position to free coin elements arrested thereby, means providing a discharge exit from said chute adjacent said primary magnetic testing means and through which freed coin elements normally pass from the chute, a main clearing mechanism arranged to efiect clearing movement of the primary testing means as aforesaid, a second magnetic testing means spaced from said first-mentioned testing means at a point lower down said passage, a secondary clearing means including a sweep member mounted for movement from a normal inefiective position to a position in said chute near said secondary testing means and in the path of movement of coins moving toward said secondary testing means to engage and dislodge coin elements stopped by the latter, and terminal coin separating means cooperable with said secondary testing means to selectively guide the movement of coin elements after leaving said secondary testing means, together with mechanism coacting with said main clearing mechanism and said secondary clearing means to actuate the same in unison.

5. A coin chute comprising a chute body having. a descending coin passage therein, a first magnetic testing means mounted on said body for movement toward and away from said passage and normally positioned close to the passage to arrest coin elements of a particular character, manually operable means for moving said testing means away. from said passage to eflect release of coin elements arrested as aforesaid, means providing a discharge passage leading from said coin passage near said first testing means and through which released coin elements normally pass, an intermediate magnetic testing device arranged at a lower point along said passage relative to said first-mentioned testing means, and

also eirectlve to arrest coins of predetermined ments, means providing a drop-out exit from said character, ejecting means including a coin-engaging member mounted on said body for movement into and out of said passage adjacent said intermediate testing device to dislodge coin elements arrested thereby, means normally and yieldably positioning said coin-engaging member out of said passage, and means operatively associating said ejecting means for cooperation with said manually operable means whereby coin releasing and dislodging operation of said first testing means and ejecting operation of said coinengaging member may be eiiected at substantially the same time, together with terminal selecting means arranged to selectively guide movement of coin elements in the region of said passage below said intermediate testing device and in cooperation with the latter.

6. A coin chute mechanism comprising a chute body having a coin passage arranged therein for gravitating movement of coins, the upper end of said passage constituting an entrance and there being a plurality of coin exits at the lower end of the passage, a first magnetic'testing means and means movably mounting the same on said chute body adjacent said entrance in a normal position to arrest the movement down said passage of coin elements of a predetermined character, means arranged and constructed to form a movable normally closed side portion of said passage opposite said first testing means and which is opened to provide a discharge passage, said first testing means being moved from normal testing position to release an arrested coin element, operating mechanism arranged to move said movable side portion and said first testing means from normal position as aforesaid to efiect release of an arrested coin element, said element normally passing out said discharge passage, a second magnetic testing means arranged at a lower level than said first testing means and of a type adapted to arrest coin elements of a predetermined character in said chute, and auxiliary ejecting mechanism arranged for coaction with said operating mechanism and including an ejecting member mounted on said body for movement from a normally ineffective position into said passage in the region near said second testing means to engage and dislodge an arrested coin element in said region to effect continued movement of the dislodged coin element on down said passage toward said exits, together with means in said passage in the region below said second testing means and cooperable with the latter to selectively guide the movement of coin elements relative to said exits.

'7. A coin chute mechanism comprising a body member having a chute passage disposed for gravitating descent of coin elements therein, a magnetic member pivotally mounted on said body member and having a part extended into said chute passage for contacting attraction of coin elements, manually operable means for pivoting said magnetic member out of said passage, magnetic means supported by said body member adjacent a lower region of said passage for maintaining a magnetic fiux thereacross, ejecting means including a finger pivotally mounted on said chute body for movement into said passage adjacent said last-mentioned magnetic means to dislodge coin elements retained by the latter, and driving connections between said finger and said manually operable means whereby said finger may be moved in ejecting action simultaneously with the movement of said first magnetic member.

8. A coin chute mechanism comprising a chute body having adescending coin passage therein with a plurality of exits, a magnetic member movably mounted on the wall of said body normally to extend into said passage for attracting engagement with coin elements, manually operable means for withdrawing said magnetic member from said passage, fixed magnetic means spaced away from said first magnetic member to selectively influence movement of coin elements in said passage, ejecting means including an ejecting member pivoted on said body and having a portion for extension into said passage ,to disloime coin elements retained by said second magnetic means, a driving linkage connecting said ejecting member with said manually operable means whereby the operation of the latter will withdraw said first mentioned magnetic member from said passage and simultaneously move said ejecting member into said passage, said linkage including a member extended through said body into said passage below said ejecting member for movement by operation of the linkage into the,

and having a part engageable by manually oper= able driving means, a second magnetic member adapted to maintain a constant magnetic field across a part of said passage to selectively infiuence movement of coin elements therein, ejecting mechanism including a finger mounted on said body for pivotal movement between said main plate and said closure plate into said passage adjacent the said second magnetic means to dislodge a coin element retained by the latter, and a driving linkage operatively supported on said body for pivoting said ejecting finger, said linkage including a deflecting member extended from a part thereof into said passage and a member operatively engageable by said lever when the latter is pivoted by said manually operable means, whereby said finger will be pivoted into said passage and said deflecting member will be moved by said linkage into deflecting position in said passage.

10. A coin chute mechanism including a chute body having a descending coin passage with an exit therein, a magnetic detecting member in communication with said passage, manual means for moving said member out of said passage to release coin elements attracted thereto, a second magnetic member supported on said body outside of said passage but maintaining a magnetic field thereacross, ejecting means supported by said body and including a pair of members movable into said passage adjacent said second magnetic means, one of which members is adapted to dislodge coin elements arrested by said last-mentioned magnetic means and the other'of which members is adapted to deflect the movement of a coin, dislodged by the first member of the pair, toward said exit, and means drivingly connecting said ejecting members with said manually operable means whereby the operation of the latter will pivot said first magnetic means out of said passage and move said ejecting members into the passage.

11. A coin chute structure comprising a chute body having a tortuous chute passage with an entrance and an exit zone therein, a magnetic device pivoted on an outer wall of said body and having a part normally extended into said passage for arresting the movement of paramagnetic coin elements therein, means providing an eject ing exit opposite said extended part of the magnetic device in the passage wall, closure means movably mounted on said chute and normally closing said ejecting exit, a second magnetic device supported on an outer wall of said body out of said passage but adapted to maintain a magnetic field across the passage to influence the movement of descending coin elements, and manually operable lever means for simultaneously moving said closure means to open said ejecting exit and pivot said first magnetic member out of the chute passage to dislodge coin elements retained thereby for discharge movement toward and through said opposite ejecting exit, and means including a first ejecting member pivoted 15 on said chute body for movement by a slidable driving bar into said passage in the region or saidsecond magnetic device for the purpose of contacting and dislodging coin elements retained in the passage by said second magnetic device, 20 together with a driving connection between said driving bar and said manually operable lever means for actuating said first ejecting member andsaid first magnet member at substantially body having a descending coin passage therein and terminating in a plurality 01' exit zones, a magnetic member movably mounted on said body and having a part projecting into said passage for contact attraction of coin elements, means for moving said magnetic member out of said passage including a lever pivoted on said body I and arranged for operation by manual control means, a second magnetic member located outside of said passage at a point below said first magnetic member, manually operable ejecting means including an ejecting finger pivotally mounted on said body for movement into said passage adjacent said second magnetic member to dislodge coins held by the latter, means for pivoting said finger including a bar member slidable on said body and linked with said finger to pivot the latter, said bar member having a deflecting pin projected into said passage at a point below said finger, the said pin being adapted to be moved relative to said passage to defiect a dislodged coin toward one 01' said exits when said bar member is operated to move said finger, and a driving linkage connecting said slidable bar and said aforementioned lever for substantially simultaneous operation by the latter with the rlgovement of said first mentioned magnetic mem- WALTER A. 'I'RATSCH. WILLIAM PATZER. 

